Headlines
Logician makes winning Return
Wichita takes Park Stakes
Magical win in Irish Champion Stakes
Search On Song In Irish St Leger
Mogul slays rivlas at Longchamp
Earth lights up Lomgchamp
Anthony Van Dyke wins in France
Glass Slippers Sparkle at Curragh
Report
We start at Doncaster last Thursday where in the 1m 2f conditions stakes, Logician (Bob, Cliff, Neil, Peej, Tony), took his chance, Set steady pace, headed over 4f out, led again 3f out, shaken up over 2f out, clear from over 1f out, winning easily by 7l. He gets 11.10 points.
On Saturday in the 7f group 2 Wichita ( Tony), went to post, Tracked leaders up the centre, edged right towards near side from over 3f out, ridden and headway to challenge over 1f out, led inside final furlong, faced strong challenge and briefly headed final strides, just prevailed, winning by a short head. He gets 46.6 points.
In the 1m 6f group 1 St Leger stakes, Berkshire Rocco ( Martin, Steve, ) took his chance, Took keen hold, prominent, shaken up to lead over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon rallied, disputed lead final furlong, held towards finish, finishing 2nd beaten a neck. He gets 13.9 points.
At Leopardstown in the 1m 2f group 1 Irish Champion stakes Magical ( Bob), Ghaiyyath ( Steve), took their chances. Magical , Tracked leader, close 2nd at halfway, ridden almost on terms near side under 2f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, stayed on well to assert towards finish, winning by ¾ l . She gets 83.2 points. Ghaiyyath, Led, narrow advantage at halfway, ridden 2f out and hard pressed, headed narrowly far side inside final furlong, no impression on winner towards finish, kept on well, 2nd beaten ¾ l. He gets 26.04 points.
On Sunday in the 5f group 1 Flying Five stakes, Glass Slippers ( Bob), took her chance, Chased leaders far side, 5th at halfway, headway into 2nd over 1f out, ridden to lead final 100yds, kept on well closing stages, winning by ½ l. She gets 61.6 points.
In the 1m 6f group 1 Irish St Leger, Search For a Song ( Bob, Tony), took her chance, Held up towards rear, pushed along 3f out, headway to chase leaders in 3rd under 2f out, went 2nd approaching final furlong, stayed on well to assert inside final 150yds, pushed clear closing stages, winning by 2l. She gets 31.6 points.
At Longchamp in the 1m 4f group 1 Grand Prix De Paris Mogul ( Tony), went to post, Held up towards rear of midfield, good headway on inside 3f out, chased leader when ridden 2f out, switched off rail and led 1 1/2f out, went clear over 1f out, kept on well and in command final furlong, winning by 2 ½ l. He gets 69 points.
In the 1m 4f group 2 Anthony Van Dyke ( Tony), took his chance, Led after 1f, made rest, ridden when challenged 2 1/2f out, kept on strongly and maintained narrow advantage from over 2f out, ridden out, winning by a short neck. He gets 49.6 points.
In the 7f group 3 Earthlight, (Bob, Cliff, Cod, Martin, Tony), went to post, Midfield on outside, smooth headway inside final 2f, chased leader when ridden 1f out, led 100yds out, ridden out, winning a shade cosily by ¾ l. He gets 16.9 points.
John Torpey Memorial Trophy
September Total
Cliff 57.6 872.4
Tony 213.7 747.2
Bob 252 707.15
Steve 56.04 597.29
Neil 27.2 553.95
Peej 40.7 391.55
Martin 46.9 378.75
Cod 16.9 215.75
Grand Slam
Leg 1 Neil
Leg 2 Tony
Leg 3 Tony
Leg 4 Cliff
Leg 5 Neil
News
The Punter remembers Pat Smullen who has sadly passed away this week
The international racing community was rocked on Tuesday night after it emerged that Pat Smullen had died in St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin from pancreatic cancer. He was 43 years of age.
A nine-time Irish champion jockey and 12-time European Classic winner, Smullen had been diagnosed with the illness on March 26, 2018.
His initial treatment led to him being given a clean bill of health last year, and he proved an inspiration for many in the way that he put his efforts into fundraising initiatives for Cancer Trials Ireland, including an Irish Champions Weekend legends race that ultimately raised over €2.5 million for the cause.
The news of his death, almost a year to the day after that most memorable of occasions, is unfortunately poignant.
A dual champion apprentice in 1995 and 1996, Smullen’s glittering career reached a glorious climax when he soared to victory aboard Harzand in the Derby in 2016. That memorable triumph on the Aga Khan’s homebred was achieved in partnership with his great ally Dermot Weld, for whom he succeeded Mick Kinane as stable jockey in 1999.
Recognised as one of the most dependable and steady big-race riders of his era, Smullen made the breakthrough at Group 1 level aboard the Tommy Stack-trained Tarascon in the 1997 Moyglare Stud Stakes. During his spectacular tenure at the helm for the Rosewell House trainer he farmed nine championships – only Kinane has won more Irish titles.
Harzand’s brilliant Epsom-Curragh Derby was the undoubted highlight, but he also won an Irish Derby on Grey Swallow, two Irish 1,000 Guineas on Nightime and Bethrah and four consecutive Irish St Legers on Vinnie Roe. His other major wins for Weld in Britain included the 2,000 Guineas on Refuse To Bend, the Ascot Gold Cup on Rite Of Passage, the Champion Stakes on Fascinating Rock, the Prince of Wales's Stakes on Free Eagle and the Sun Chariot Stakes on Dress To Thrill, on whom he also won the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes in the US.
Earthlight is set to head for the Qatar Prix de la Foret at ParisLongchamp next – and could go to the Breeders’ Cup after that. Having lost his unbeaten record in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, the Andre Fabre-trained dual Group One winner successfully stepped up to seven furlongs in the Group Three Prix du Pin at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.
Should all go well on Arc day, the son of Shamardal has the option of going to Keeneland in November.
“He’s good. He handled the seven furlongs well,” said Fabre.
“That was a prep race for the Foret so that is the obvious target for him. The Breeders’ Cup Mile could be an option later."
